Louisville Game Travel Thread

buzzn3

Georgia Tech Fan
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80
The official parking situation is awful but it does sound like there are cash lots all around the stadium. I need to hop on I-65 postgame so I'm aiming for either that area or somewhere off Eastern Parkway near their campus.
Yeah, I ended up stuck down dead end campus streets, going in circles and nowhere close to the stadium last time when I just tried to wing it and find a cash lot on the way coming from the North. Just a total execution fail on my part.
 

Eatmorchikin

Georgia Tech Fan
Messages
4
If anybody wants to tour anything bourbon related, hope you’ve already got reservations. Best you can do is probably slip in to some of the “experience” shops on Main St. Bardstown, Evan Williams, and Old Forrester have a presence down there. You may be able to get into the Michter’s bar, but it can be crowded as well. There’s a huge music festival going on this weekend so hotels, Ubers, and parking will be tough to come by.
 

Eatmorchikin

Georgia Tech Fan
Messages
4
Driving down! Also went in 2018. Got some BBQ before the Game (will have to confirm the name but it was one of the "most popular" places), did not sufficiently research parking ahead of time (was a bit of a disaster/mess so planning ahead a little better this year), enjoyed us emptying out their stadium in record time as we crushed their hopes and dreams, then did Churchill Downs and the Louisville Slugger museum on Saturday. I'd recommend the full behind the scenes tour at Churchill Downs, I really enjoyed it and I'm not that into horse races. If you have a Quality or Mfg. Engineering background, don't expect them to know much more than very high level info on the Louisville slugger factory tour 🤷‍♀️
Did you figure out what the “most popular BBQ” place was? I live here and couldn’t tell you what it may be. Best I’ve got is Martins but that’s a Nashville chain that happens to have a location here on the far East End.
 

AUFC

Helluva Engineer
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Did you figure out what the “most popular BBQ” place was? I live here and couldn’t tell you what it may be. Best I’ve got is Martins but that’s a Nashville chain that happens to have a location here on the far East End.
I've seen Momma's mentioned a lot in my research, but particularly for their wings. Martin's came up as did Four Pegs and Frankfort Ave Beer Depot. I'm not a huge BBQ person in general so I never deep dove into the options.

I've only got time in the city for about 3-4 meals but Frank's, Morris Deli, Lotsa Pasta, Hammerheads, 610 Magnolia, Fat Lamb, Havana Rumba, La Bodeguita de Mima, Toasty's, Mayan Cafe, Pizza Lupo, Blue Dog Bakery, Con Huevos, Nord's, Superegos, and the Post are all spots I've earmarked for visits.
 

buzzn3

Georgia Tech Fan
Messages
80
Did you figure out what the “most popular BBQ” place was? I live here and couldn’t tell you what it may be. Best I’ve got is Martins but that’s a Nashville chain that happens to have a location here on the far East End.
Looks like it was Feast BBQ. It was good, probably not amazing. Although looks like maybe it's declined a bit in recent years.


Last BBQ I had was in Dallas, and it was really good, so now that's pretty much all I can think of comparing anything to, so I'll probably be skipping Louisville BBQ this time unless someone has a stellar recommendation.
 

yeti92

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Does Louisville still have dumb liquor laws? I remember going there in 2015 and trying to go to a liquor store around 6:30pm and they were all closed for the day. Believe it was a Thursday or Friday.
 

AUFC

Helluva Engineer
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Research told me Kentucky Peerless was the move if you only have time for a single distillery. Holy cow, what an incredible tour. Worth the visit even though the owner is a Dwag fan. I want to contrast this with a large scale operation next time I visit.

Fire adjacent to the Ali Center by the way. I think it’s closed indefinitely unfortunately.
 
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Alanin502

Georgia Tech Fan
Messages
3
Got a ticket in 302 but looks like they recently released a bunch of additional tickets at the top of 202, so I may just happen to end up there instead during the game.

Additional research has led me to believe parking at the fairgrounds may be ideal, so I'm planning to park there, and wander through the tailgate parking lots on the way to the stadium.
I would avoid the fairgrounds this weekend. Park at Churchill Downs instead. The Bourbon and Beyond music festival is this weekend at the fairgrounds. Parking is going to be a big ol' kluster F.....
 

iceeater1969

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I'm getting hesitant to buy tickets from GT for away games. I got decent tickets for the bowl game last year. Maybe the 30 yard line, 10 rows up from the field. The tickets I received for the Syracuse game were upper deck in the corner. Now I'm sure that is what was allocated by Syracuse, but I wound up buying two tickets on about the 15 yard line on the Tech bench side, 8 rows up for about $65 each. There wasn't much of a clear Tech section, a lot of folks scattered around, but I think for most away games, I'll just buy online to get them at least closer to where I want them. And I'm fairly high up in the ranking points system, maybe in the 800s?, so not blaming Tech, just not the greatest seats. If we in the lower level with a bunch of Tech fans, may have been different.
Try that at Vt?.
I think visitors at bds are only alotted sests in se corner.

Many gt alumni put thier tickets on sale instead of giving to friends or returning to gtaa. This makes after market tickets cheap
 

buzzn3

Georgia Tech Fan
Messages
80
I would avoid the fairgrounds this weekend. Park at Churchill Downs instead. The Bourbon and Beyond music festival is this weekend at the fairgrounds. Parking is going to be a big ol' kluster F.....
The actual Churchill Downs lots or the variety or cash lots to the east of Churchill Downs?
 

AUFC

Helluva Engineer
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Any trip reports? I had a blast (game result aside), I'd recommend this away trip next time it rolls around (2028) or for basketball or just general tourism. The only thing I wish is that the distilleries had better evening hours - I'm not really a huge daydrinker but they are almost all open 9-5. No evening hours outside a couple of them.

Landed on Friday and went to Kentucky Peerless - wonderful tour and tasting. Drove over towards Toasty's Tavern for the city's best double cheeseburger for lunch. Headed towards Churchill Downs after that for the Kentucky Derby Museum and even got to see a race during the track tour. Checked into my hotel after that and then hit Mayan Cafe for dinner which was solid but I had higher expectations. Night capped for Syracuse/Stanford at Corner on Main St, which was nice and lively but it seemed mostly like locals and Bourbon & Beyond. Really didn't see that many folks in Tech gear the whole weekend aside from the stadium.

Next morning, I went to Sunergos for a great coffee and then Nord's Bakery next door for doughnuts (pretty popular 1-2 punch judging by the crowds in line). Headed to the Louisville Slugger Factory for a tour which was just okay. I don't work in manufacturing but was kind of surprised how low tech the place is. Then I headed east to Morris Deli to pick up a country ham sandwich and some beer for the tailgate. Tailgated with some Tech fans (including @Techwood Relict! ), attended the game (with a friendly Tech crew in 201) which was very loud at times and had a great atmosphere.
 

Techcaster572

Jolly Good Fellow
Messages
282
Pregame activities

They have pregame festivities setup called the "Alley" which was pretty cool.
Right next to an airport so planes are constantly flying over the stadium.
They had navy parachute jump team skydive into the stadium along with a C130 flyover which was super awesome. My son wants to go into the military and he flat loved it!

The stadium:
First time up to the "Ville" as they call it and I was not impressed. I'm an attitude guy and enjoy the feistiness that comes with road trips so we gave it as good as we get it. Their PA guy is an excitable fella to say the least. Their piped in music reminds me of Miami. They have an inferiority complex to Kensucky...that is for sure. Their fan base has Alabama attitude with a Vanderbilt trophy case.

That stupid "L" being flashed all the time as my son and I kept woofing back...Way to represent Losers!

The game:
Let me start out by saying this. We were the better team that day. Our mistakes and play calling gaffes allowed the Ville to stay in the game at least from my perspective sitting in Sect 304.

I get that Haynes King was trying to make a play so I feel he gets a pass but the punt returner fielding the punt on the 5 yard line vs letting it go is what caused that to happen imo.

The constant inside run on 2nd, 3rd, and short was baffling to me with Louisville loading the box and flat out daring us to beat them over the top. I felt like CBK had Sandra Bullock in his head from "the blind side" to RUN THE DANG BAWL, BUSTER". Our pass protection was fine and given time, Haynes made some bad and good throws but the key was our wr's and te's were open (especially #9 Boyd- I think he could've had a HUGE game).

The inside run, jet sweeps, and qb draws just were covered up most of the game but we kept trying to force it. I may have completely overestimated the OL as I simply cannot believe we cannot just one freaking yard multiple times when we needed it the most. As a side note, louisville hit Haynes hard multiple times. Can we not call his # on the qb draw that often???? Kid is gonna get hurt and we need him the most.

Birr really struggles from the right hash so anything over 40+ from the right hash, please GO FOR IT!

Up until the blocked fg kick, I felt we were going to win. Same thing last year at MBS against Louisville when they had that 60-yard rb sprint for a td in the 4th after we lead in the 4th 28-13.

We are simply that close to being 5-0. Yes, Saturday sucks and I'm still ticked off that I drove 14 hours for that, but this team can, and I believe will win 7 games. Even after the fsu win, i never felt we could compete for acc championship and that seems to have played out. I will say this to those angry at the coaching staff, we no longer are a joke as we were under skinny jeans. We are a competitive football team. Have we made the leap into the next tier (top 20), no I don't believe we have but we can win any game but also lose any game where our best isn't given. I'm happy with the progression in year 2 under Key even though I'm tremendously disappointed in the Cuse & Ville games.

In the end, I got to spend a quality weekend with my son, who is in high school and we had a blast.
Kid wants to go to Tech to be an engineer and then to the Air Force so it was fun watching what I believe he will be doing long into the future. He gave it right back to the Ville fans. We had a blast!

Country side of Kentucky is beautiful. Great road trip.

Anyhow, Go crush Duke and we'll be 4-2 which I think we will do. This bye comes at the right time!

Go Jackets!!!
 
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g0lftime

Helluva Engineer
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Did you figure out what the “most popular BBQ” place was? I live here and couldn’t tell you what it may be. Best I’ve got is Martins but that’s a Nashville chain that happens to have a location here on the far East End.
Does Martin's still have a Redneck Taco. Been to the one in Nolensville TN a few times when back in Nashville.
 

AUFC

Helluva Engineer
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Atlanta
I shared my trip report in the travel thread as well. I'm glad you had a fun time! I agree, I'm not really an aviation guy but the flyover particularly right at kickoff as the team took the field was unexpected and completely awesome. Their fans were very into the game - they caused that botched snap which thankfully Key got a timeout in right before the snap. The home field advantage was definitely real - it's hard to win an ACC road game, doesn't matter if it's Clemson or Cal.
 

Techcaster572

Jolly Good Fellow
Messages
282
I shared my trip report in the travel thread as well. I'm glad you had a fun time! I agree, I'm not really an aviation guy but the flyover particularly right at kickoff as the team took the field was unexpected and completely awesome. Their fans were very into the game - they caused that botched snap which thankfully Key got a timeout in right before the snap. The home field advantage was definitely real - it's hard to win an ACC road game, doesn't matter if it's Clemson or Cal.
AUFC.

No doubt their fans were stoked and loud. Personally, as a road warrior fan, I like it that way.
My son and I had fun with their attitude. Not a fan of the piped in music but it did get their fan base jacked. All in all, it was a good trip minus the result and you are correct, it's hard to win on the road in conference and Saturday demonstrated why.

Had that game been played at HGF@BDS, i believe we win by 10.
 
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